jon, we've got the boehner plan and the reid plan. everybody in washington knows neither of these things can pass, so what, if anything, is being done right now to craft some sort of compromise? >> reporter: well, there are, as you heard jim mention, quiet negotiations going on between harry reid and mitch mcconnell. trying to find middle ground. mitch mcconnell has been on the phone several times, a many told, with vice president biden over the last several days. they are trying to find one last-ditch effort to get what everybody knows needs to happen, dan, and that is something that has bipartisan support. i got to tell you, though, the atmosphere is so poisoned here, the question is, once they get that agreement, can they pass it? >> well, let me pick up on that because there's been so much tough talk, even some trash talk, i wonder if there is another wiggle room rhetorically for r e hard-liners on either side to back down. >> reporter: well, i think there -- maybe not the hard-liners, but i think there actually is wiggle room bec